Saturday, December 3, 2016

I See That New York Post Guy is Reading My Blog Again


A certain somebody at the New York Post may have me blocked on Twitter after I asked to be credited with breaking a news story that I rightfully broke but that doesn’t mean he removed my blog from his bookmark list. Remember back earlier in the winter when I asked the Yankees to shake up the offseason and shock the world by acquiring Zack Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks? Well here we stand a few weeks later and that certain somebody had the same idea. Go figure.

In the article, which can be found with a simple Google search I’m sure as I will not be crediting him with anything unfortunately, the proposed trade proposal for Greinke includes Arizona also throwing in Brandon Drury while the Yankees send Jacoby Ellsbury, Chase Headley, Domingo Acevedo, Albert Abreu, Ian Clarkin and Bryan Mitchell to the Diamondbacks. Boy, oh boy. Where do I begin?

Jacoby Ellsbury. No trade clause, not really a moveable contract even if he didn’t have one and his production is severely lacking. Arizona wants salary relief to come from trading Greinke, not another deal that will weigh down the franchise.

Chase Headley. Maybe you haven’t heard of the guy in Arizona currently manning third base, Jake Lamb? Again, a hefty contract (although not completely unreasonable for two seasons) and it doesn’t really fill a need for Arizona in my opinion.

Before I continue let me point out that I am well aware that after the Headley contract expire the Diamondbacks would begin saving money in the latter years of the contract but the fact remains that the only reason they want to trade him is to save money NOW, not later. Carrying on.


That’s an awful lot in terms of prospects when you’re taking on over $100 million in salary and an AAV of $34 million. No, no and no. It’s a salary dump for a player coming off a down year, treat it as such. 

Yankees Lose Minor League Hitting Coordinator to Twins


Another one bites the dust. The Minnesota Twins came into the offseason needing a hitting coach and they finally found their man in the way of the New York Yankees minor league hitting coordinator, James Rowson. The Minnesota Twins fired their hitting coach Tom Brunasky on November 8th after four seasons and the club wasted no time in finding their replacement at the Yankees expense.

Rowson has been the Yankees minor league hitting coordinator for the past three seasons after spending parts of two seasons as the MLB hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs in 2012 and 2013. Under Rowson the Yankees have seen the emergence of players like Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird, Tyler Austin, Mason Williams, Ben Gamel, Aaron Judge and others not only reach the MLB level but succeed at the MLB level in spurts.

Rowson also worked with Alfonso Soriano, Starlin Castro, Darwin Barney, Wellington Castillo, Anthony Rizzo and others while with the Cubs so he comes to Minnesota with a resume of success. It’s a shame to lose him from the Yankees perspective but I am glad to see one of our own (Rowson was a minor league outfielder for the Seattle Mariners and the Yankees during his playing career) get a shot back at the MLB level.

Good luck James.


This Day in New York Yankees History 12/3: Enter McCann & Ellsbury


On this day in 2013 the New York Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury to a seven year deal worth $153 million. The team also made the Brian McCann signing official by signing the catcher to the richest contract ever for a catcher with a five year deal worth $85 million.

Also on this day in 2013 the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame inducted three more members by the pre-integration panel. The list includes former Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert, longtime umpire Hank O'Day, and Deacon White who made his debut as a barehanded catcher in 1871. These three would bring the total of players in the hall to an even 300 members.